The Essay Podcast
Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.
Episodes to download
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Chorus girls in Paris—Music Rediscovered
Fri 27 Sep 2024
Adjoa Osei has been delving into the personal archives of some 1930s Plaza Tiller dancers.
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Esther Inglis's musical self portraits—Music Rediscovered
Thu 26 Sep 2024
Eleanor Chan delves into the world of a Huguenot bookmaker who used music as a code.
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The Star-Spangled Banner, Jacobins and Abolitionists—Music Rediscovered
Wed 25 Sep 2024
Oskar Jensen on what links Liverpool politics, a street ballad and the American anthem.
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Tudor music and politics—Music Rediscovered
Tue 24 Sep 2024
Christina Faraday tells us how Robert Cecil used a song to curry favour with Elizabeth I.
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Teresa del Riego's suffrage anthem—Music Rediscovered
Mon 23 Sep 2024
Naomi Paxton shares research on a suffrage song with a special performance by Lucy Stevens
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Don't You Think We're Forever—Forever Songs
Fri 5 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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Couldn't Love You More—Forever Songs
Thu 4 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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Banks of Sicily—Forever Songs
Wed 3 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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Time Has Told Me—Forever Songs
Tue 2 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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How Happy I Am—Forever Songs
Mon 1 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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Elizabeth Elliott—A Different Way to Listen
Fri 31 May 2024
Elizabeth Elliott, a talented musician who became deaf, shares her inspiring journey.
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Paul Whittaker OBE—A Different Way to Listen
Thu 30 May 2024
Paul Whittaker is a deaf sign language performer for classical and musical performances
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Chisato Minamimura—A Different Way to Listen
Wed 29 May 2024
Chisato Minamimura, a deaf artist with a fascination for sound gives us her take on music
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Nigel Braithwaite—A Different Way to Listen
Tue 28 May 2024
Hard of hearing musician Nigel Braithwaite takes a wry look at his musical career.
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Ruth Montgomery—A Different Way to Listen
Mon 27 May 2024
Ruth Montgomery reflects on growing up deaf but determined to be a professional flautist.
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12/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Fri 12 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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11/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Thu 11 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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10/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Wed 10 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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09/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Tue 9 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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08/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Mon 8 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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Unravelling plainness—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Fri 29 Mar 2024
Isabella Rosner explains why needlework challenges our idea of Quaker simplicity.
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Unravelling plainness
Fri 29 Mar 2024
Isabella Rosner explains why needlework challenges our idea of Quaker simplicity
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What does feminist art mean?—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Thu 28 Mar 2024
Ana Baeza Ruiz shares reflections from artists in the 70s women's liberation movement.
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Rock, Paper, Saints and Sinners—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Wed 27 Mar 2024
Gemma Tidman describes a board game created by a Jesuit seeking Mohawk converts.
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Arteries of tomorrow—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Tue 26 Mar 2024
Dan Taylor considers the way communities along the A13 are looking to the future.
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The legacy of the laundries—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Mon 25 Mar 2024
Louise Brangan reflects on the legacies of Ireland's Magdalene laundries.
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Gas, oil and the Essex blues—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Fri 22 Mar 2024
Sam Johnson-Schlee draws links between Dr Feelgood, Canvey Island and energy policies
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Gas, oil and the Essex blues
Fri 22 Mar 2024
Sam Johnson-Schlee draws links between Dr Feelgood, Canvey Island and energy policies
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From algorithms to oceans—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Thu 21 Mar 2024
Kerry McInerney explores the promises of the ‘sustainable AI’ movement and how AI develops
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From algorithms to oceans
Thu 21 Mar 2024
Kerry McInerney on the promises of the ‘sustainable AI’ movement and how AI may develop
Death in Trieste
Watch: My Deaf World
The Book that Changed Me
Five figures from the arts and science introduce books that changed their lives and work.